Roof Leaks

Ask any homeowner if they believe in “Murphy’s Law” or the notion that if something can go wrong with their home, it will, and you may be surprised to hear a resounding “Yes”.

This notion applies to many aspects of home maintenance, like when the driveway buckles in a heat wave or the garage door gets stuck just before you have to leave for work. But nowhere is “Murphy’s Law” more prevalent than with roof leaks that usually appear during a heavy storm, when you can’t make a permanent repair. Despite the storm, you have to take some action to lessen the water damage working its way through the roofing materials, down the rafters, into the interior walls of your home.

If you notice water damage during a storm for example, water stains, standing water, mold, or wet insulation, trace the course of the roof leak to its point of origin and mark the hole with a nail or wire to help you relocate it more easily when you climb back onto the roof under dryer conditions. It’s a good idea to take measurements from points inside the home that you can locate to points outside. If you have determined from inside that the leak is mid-roof and not related to flashing, the problem may be damaged or missing asphalt shingles. If possible, place buckets to collect the excess water.

There are some emergency procedures you can take to lessen any water damage to your home. You can apply roof patch to the hole from inside using a putty knife or caulking gun. Another emergency repair is to replace a damaged or missing shingle with a temporary shingle that can then be replaced with a sheet of galvanized metal when the roof is dry. It’s important to make repairs quickly so damage can be minimized. Try to locate the leak from inside your home and repair what you can on a temporary basis until you can have a proper roof inspection outside and make the necessary repairs.

When the roof is dry, check for weak spots. On sloped roofs, weak spots occur particularly in the flashings (chimneys, plumbing stacks, valleys and in particular, skylights). These flashings are usually made of metal so they are more susceptible to wind and other mechanical damage. Check your eaves for weak spots too, and check for any damaged or missing shingles. Be sure not to walk on your roof any more than necessary or you could cause more damage.

When repairing roofing or gutters, make sure to use a roof ladder or a single ladder that hooks over the ridge and lies on the roof, wear dry rubber-soled shoes and remember, your safety comes first.

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